Refrigerating apparatus



P 1935- H. H. M GEHEE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1954 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 STATE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS poration of Michigan Application March 14, 1934, Serial No. 715,403

2 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems and particularly to refrigerating systems of the compressor-condenser-expander type.

Heretofore, in refrigerating systems of this 5 type. it has been the practice to admit refrigerant into the evaporator at a single region, and frequently in such systems an even and uniform flow and distribution of the incoming refrigerant is not attainable, with the result that the proper lo circulation and agitation of the refrigerant in the evaporator cannot be obtained.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a refrigerating system in which the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator below the liquid level in such a manner as to obtain a substantially uniform introduction of the incoming refrigerant into the evaporator throughout the area thereof to prevent the superheat of refrigerant in the evaporator.

Another object is to provide a refrigerating system in which the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator below the refrigerant level and at a plurality of regions throughout the length of the evaporator rather than at a localized region as is the practice in refrigerating systems heretofore employed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be. apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a -refrigcrating system, the evaporator thereof being enlarged and shown in section; and

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the evaporator in detail.

Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, I have shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of illustration, a compressor-condenser-expander type of refrigerating system having an evaporator l and including a motor operated compressor unit H, a condenser I2, a high side float type expansion valve l3 and a second expansion valve It connected by a high pressure conduit l with a valve l3, and also connected with the inlet of the evaporator l0.

Refrigerant vapor is withdrawn from the evaporator Ill through the vapor or low pressure conduit 16 leading to the compressor II and is liquefied in the condenser l2 and returned to the evaporator I!) through the liquid or high pressure conduit IS. The valve I4 is pressure operated and keeps the pressure in conduit I5 sufficiently high enough to prevent the collection of frost and ice thereon.

The evaporator Ill comprises a pair of nested members A and B having spaced sides I! and 5 spaced bottoms l8 which provide side risers I9 I and a bottom header 20, respectively,.the top and end edges of the members A and B being continuously secured together to provide the refrigerant chamber within the evaporator which 10 is composed of the risers l9 and bottom header 20.

The top portions of the sides ll of the inner member ,A are preferably inwardly depressed to provide header spaces 2| which are placed in 5 communication with each other by means of a transversely extending tubular upper riser 22 welded at its ends to the sides ll of the member A at the depressed portions thereof. The low pressure conduit 16 is connectedwith the upper 2 header 22 by means of a suitable outlet connector 23.

The lower header 20 is provided with an inlet opening at one end, which receives an internally threaded inlet collar 24 into which a suitable 25 connector 25 is threaded, the expansion valve l4 being connected with the inlet connector 25 as shown in Fig. 1.

As before stated, the present invention relates particularly to the manner of discharging the incoming expanded refrigerant into the evaporator l0, it being contemplated by the present invention to avoid the discharge of refrigerant at a localized region and to provide a means whereby the refrigerant will have a substantially even and uniform discharge into the evaporator throughout the length thereof, so as to obtain the proper circulation of the refrigerant within the evaporator.

In the form of the invention shown for illustration in Figs. 1 and 2, I have provided a distributing conduit 26 closed at one end and carried at the other end by the collar. 24, so as to receive the incoming refrigerant from, the expansion valve M. This conduit extends substantially the full length of the lower header 20 between the spaced bottom walls l8 of the evaporator members A and B, and preferably substantially midway between the side risers i9 as indicated in Fig. 2.

The liquid refrigerant is discharged through a plurality of outlets 21 arranged at each side of the conduit and preferably facing'toward the vertical side of the risers l9. These outlets provide a means whereby the incoming refrigerant will be 55 discharged into the lower header at a plurality of spaced regions and also in opposite directions toward the vertical side risers 19, thus providing for a substantially even and uniform release of the refrigerant into the lower header 20 substantially throughout its length.

While I have shown the invention in the form of a conduit, it is to be understood that the same may assume any other suitable form which will provide for the discharge of the refrigerant'into I the lower header at a plurality of spaced regions throughout its length. Also, any desired number of outlets may be provided in the conduit or equivalent means and in which the outlets on one side, if desired, may be staggered with respect to the outlets on the opposite side.

From the foregoing, it will readily .be apparent that I have provided a new refrigerating system wherein expanded (partly liquid and partly gas) refrigerant is introduced into the lower part of a refrigerant evaporator .at a plurality of points in order to prevent the possibility of superheat of the refrigerant in the evaporator. By this arrangement, the expanded refrigerant upon entering the evaporator at a plurality of points will, upon rising to the upper headers, have a tendency to pick up stagnant liquid refrigerant located between the various points of introduction and thereby cause the entire body of liquid to become stirred or agitated. This forced circulation prevents substantially, if not entirely, the possibility of superheat of the refrigerant in the evaporator.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerating system comprising an evaporator and a refrigerant llquefying \init operatively connected with said evaporator for circulating a refrigerant therethrough, said evaporator comprising two upper headers and a lower header,

spaced side risers in communication with said headers, and a refrigerant distributing member extending within and substantially throughout the length of said lower header substantially midway between said side risers, and having an inlet connected with said liquefying unit and a plurality of spaced outlets for providing discharge of refrigerant into said lower header at spaced regions remote from said inlet, said outlets being disposed at each side of said distributing member and opening toward the openings of said side risers into said lower header whereby uniform circulation of refrigerant through said risers and uniform temperatures throughout said evaporator are obtained.

2. A refrigerating system comprising an evaporator and a refrigerant liquefying unit operatively connected with said evaporator for circulating a refrigerant therethrough, said evaporator comprising nested members having their sides and bottoms spaced apart to form a bottom header and spaced side risers and having their end and top edges continuously secured together, and two 

